I groaned and threw my head into my pillow as my phone started yelling at me. "Warning!" It screamed. "Warning!"

My new ring tone for Anthony was becoming more of a nuisance than I first thought. Maybe I should change it to trickling water falls - that would send me straight to sleep.

Or make you really need to pee.

You're right. No water sounds.

Or thoughts...

Oh great, now I need to pee. I pouted with the realisation that I had to get out bed to get to the toilet.

If only the bladder could just get up and walk itself there.

That would be easier.

All hail the intelligent bladders!

"Warning! Warning!" The phone continued.

"Damn it." I reached out and picked up the phone as I started to climb out of bed.

"Does your mentally ill mind know how to pick up a phone?" Anthony sneered on the other end.

"Shut up! And I am not mentally ill. I am mentally quirky!" Not that there was anything wrong with illness', I just didn't want to give him an excuse for printing out a label and glueing it to my forehead while I slept.

"Babe, quirky implies that there is a cuteness to it. You are anything but that."

"I'm hanging up now." I pulled the phone away to hang up when I heard his muffled yelling.

Why did you tell him? You are supposed to just do it and say the phone cut out. Idiot.

Next time.

Throwing my phone back on my bed, I got up and decided a toilet break was much needed.

It was only seconds before my phone started again.

This guy needed to learn to take a hint.

Or at least not to interrupt a girl while she's peeing!

Rolling my eyes I finished up and decided I would take my time, before I answered my phone, maybe I will get dressed and do my hair first?

Brushing the bed knots out of my hair I pulled it back over one shoulder and slipped into my leggings and grey top - not thinking much of my outfit since I wasn't going anywhere today.

"Warning! Warning!"

"Oh for the love of god." I cursed and picked up my phone. "Take the hint."

"I'm down stairs." Anthony quickly blurted out.

"What?" I frowned in confusion. "Why?"

"Because."

"Okay well good for you. How about you stay down there and I'll stay up here. Win win situation." I smiled even though he couldn't see me.

"Skylar, I would appreciate it if you could come down for a moment." He was making an effort to keep his tone as neutral as possible.

I frowned. "Why?"

"Because I asked nicely."

"Will we be getting into a car?"

"Yes." He dragged out the word slightly.

"Will we be driving to a lake so you can kill me?"

"if only." He muttered next to the phone - not meaning for me to hear it - before he cleared his throat. "Of course not Babe, I would just love some company for the day, maybe even some lunch?"

I scrunched up my features as I considered. He was up to something, I knew it, but, my curiosity had caught me.

"Fine." I hung up the phone and walked over to the front door, slipping my feet into my flats and grabbing my coat from over the kitchen chair. I walked out of the building to see Anthony flipping his phone impatiently as he paced the length of the car.

"Okay so first you take me shopping and now you show up once again. If you are taking me to the hairdressers I am going to burn your face off with my straightening iron." I blurted out as I wrapped my coat around myself to shield my body from the cold morning.

"No, I actually like your hair. Not quite brown not quite red and it has a nice wave to it - although I would suggest you wear it down a little more I won't go so far as to send you to a hairdresser."

I flinched back at what I considered a compliment.

Are you sure that was a compliment?

I think that was as close to a compliment that leaves that mans lips.

What a waste of a pair of perfect lips.

Agreed.

Although there are other uses for them...

"Sky?" Anthony called to me again.

"Huh? Where you saying something?"

He could have been complementing you and you missed it.

I doubted that.

"Get in the car." He repeated a little slower this time, his eyes wider and more intense as he put extra emphasis on each word.

I frowned and scrunched up my nose. "Why?"

"Just get in." He reached for my hand and pulled me towards the car.

I opened the door and looked back at him. "If this is one of your stupid agreement things you can shove that up your..." My words died on my lips as I turned to see Charlene and my soon to be mother-in-law Sandra smiling in the back of the car. "Oh hell no." I tried to turn around.

"If you even think about running I will man-handle your ass into this car." Anthony threatened me.

"And what do I have to gain out of this?"

"I swear I will leave you alone for the entire weekend." He pleaded with me. "No visits, no phones call, texts, nothing."

I smiled at the prospect of an Anthony free weekend. "Done but if you break your word..."

"I'll let you buy a puppy."

I patted his chest. "Good boy."

"I said I'd let you buy one I never said you can treat me like one." He frowned and looked utterly disturbed.

"Just practicing." I smiled as I climbed into the car next to Charlene and Sandra while Anthony moved to the front passenger seat.

"Oh and Sky." Anthony began again as he entered the car. "I never said where it was going to live." He smirked. "The pound will do nicely."

That bastard!

I pouted and crossed my arms over my chest as I tried to glare his head into catching on fire.

Take notes inner woman! My inner self began to pace as she listed. When agreeing, masterminding or compromising with this man, get everything in writing and be careful of the wording of such agreements. Also, do you think glasses may make us look smarter?

Oh dear god this was going to be a long day.

The car stopped along the edge of the inner city where the old, rustic and classic buildings of history met the modern world of skyscrapers. We all stepped out of the car and looked around, Charlene and Sandra were quickly pulling out phones to check times and which direction they needed to start walking in.

"We are meeting up with the wedding planner to finalise all the cutlery, table pieces and a few other little details." Sandra began to list.

"Oh and the flowers!" Charlene added with an excited look on her face.

Because we mustn't forget the flowers.

Oh of course not, what with their beautiful colouring and perfume smells.

Dear god woman calm down, its just a plant.

"The only thing you two need to focus on is where, what to wear and of course the cake." Sandra clarified for us, just in case we didn't already know that the two of them where basically planning the entire thing.

"There is no point in having a wedding without that gorgeous cake." Charlene put in.

"That tastes good right?" I asked putting in my concerns.

"Stop thinking of your stomach child they are masterpieces on a plate." Charlene scolded me.

"Masterpieces that you can eat." I raised my shoulders as I rationalised.

Anthony reached out and placed both his hands on my shoulders before he pulled me back towards him as Charlene went to lecture me on cake. "Why don't you too ladies go to that and we will check out this church will we wait."

Sandra clapped her hands together. "Perfect, let's not waste time Charlene. Oh and Anthony make sure you ask for Father Benedict when you get there, he was expecting you sometime today."

"Will do." He smiled at his mother.

I watched his features as the two ladies turned around and started off towards the wedding planners. "You have them eating out of the palm of your hand."

"Manipulation is a beautiful thing Sky." He turned around and started walking down the street towards the church.

"Does your mother know what a monster she has raised?" I asked out of pure curiosity.

Anthony scoffed. "Who do you think I inherited this off."

I gasped and looked back over my shoulder. "No way. She seems so charming and innocent."

"That's how she gets you." He smiled fondly as he spoke about his mother.

"You two are close huh?" I tried to read him and get a bit more a gage about what he was about and what he cared for.

"Of course, the woman raised me and loves me unconditionally." He frowned as if it were common sense.

Relax buddy, not everyone loves their mothers.

"And your father?"

"Same as any Dad I guess. Always home for dinner, roughed up your hair and lectured me about how cartoons were killing my mind." He shrugged calmly before he tensed. His footing stopped abruptly making me take a few steps before I stopped to realise he was no longer walking.

"What?" I turned back a little confused.

"Are you fishing for something or just questioning because you're curious?" He narrowed his eyes at me, as if daring me to lie to him.

Truthfully I hadn't thought be fishing for something, but now that he bought it up.

"One thing you need to know about me. I don't fish. I read." I clarified to him. It was accurate in the literal and metaphorical sense. "And second, I was just making conversation but if you like I will make a mental note of your sudden insecurity." I smiled sweetly.

"I'm not insecure." He pressed.

"Oh really? You stopped the second you thought I may use any of this against you. Is there some poor sob story in your adolescents that has made you scared of strangers and their questions?"

"No." He brushed off the question and started storming forward once again.

I smiled at the reaction. "Oh my god there is." I beamed at how easy it was becoming to read him. "Tell me were you picked on as a kid?"

"Drop it Sky."

I gasped again. "Did they call you Runner? Is that why you got all hot and bothered when I got your name wrong?"

Anthony stopped walking. "And don't forget, that will be your last name soon Babe." He smiled.

I opened my mouth and then closed it again. "I-I never a-agreed to that." I finally managed to say, a little uncertain.

"You can either keep both or kick Martin to the curb it's your choice." He tried to give me an ultimatum.

"Or you could ditch your last name that was object of childhood bullying and take mine." I offered another unthought-of option.

Anthony frowned for a moment as his steps began to slow - probably because we had reached our destination.

"And tell me Martin, what was the object of your childhood bullying?" He smirked knowingly.

"Shut up Jackass." I spat just as Anthony opened the church doors, letting the final word Jackass echo slightly through the small hall.

Oh shit.

You are off to a fantastic start! How can they not let you get married here!

The church was almost empty - almost. A few people scattered around, praying mostly and of course the priest that was now approaching us with a very displeased look upon his face.

"Can I help you?" He asked, clearly not happy about our - or particularly my - presence.

"Ah yes, we are here to see Father Benedict, he was expecting us."

"I am father Benedict, you must be Mr Renner and Ms Martin?" The father looked between us.

"Yes we are." I smiled.

He nodded, again looking displeased. "Follow me."

The priest led us to a small room where he left us for a short time. I looked around the room a little unsure of what to say or how to act. Anthony began looking through a number of broachers to amuse himself while we waited.